Some Wisconsin lawmakers donate shutdown pay, others keep it

3:44 PM,
Mar. 21, 2014

Sen. Ron Johnson (left) and Sen. Tammy Baldwin.

Written by

Donovan Slack
Gannett Wisconsin Media Washington Bureau

The federal government shutdown may have cost the economy billions by some estimates, but it was a boon for some Wisconsin charities, who banked checks for thousands of dollars thanks to members of the state's congressional delegation.

Reps. Reid Ribble of Sherwood, Tom Petri of Fond du Lac, Paul Ryan of Janesville, Ron Kind of La Crosse, and James Sensenbrenner of Menomonee Falls all donated their pay from the 16-day shutdown - roughly $7,400 - to charities in their districts.

Sen. Ron Johnson cut a check to the U.S. Treasury instead, while Sen. Tammy Baldwin and Reps. Sean Duffy of Wausau, ...